Chapter 3
Chloe went quiet for only a second.
Then she spoke up, "Emily, be real. Don't you think Alex and Sophie click better?
"They vibe so well together, and they've been childhood friends forever. You can totally see Alex lights up when he's with Sophie.
"Honestly, Emily, it's good that Sophie became the bride today."
It felt like my heart was caught in a vice, the severe pain making me shudder.
Ever since I could remember, Chloe and I were like two shadows. We always ate, slept, and hung out side by side.
When her parents were busy, my folks would invite her over for dinner.
When she got sick and had to go to the ER, my mom took three days off work and stayed up all night with her, never leaving her side.
When she left for college and said she'd miss us, my dad, eyes red from holding back tears, drove over 1,200 miles with a car full of stuff to see her off.
My parents treated her like their own daughter, and I saw her as my little sister.
But now, she said it was good that Sophie became the bride today.
I shot back, "Chloe, you clearly know how long I've been planning this wedding.
"I went through five different wedding companies across the whole city, dragging my own designs from one place to the next, making sure they understood exactly what I wanted.
"If one couldn't pull it off, I'd just move on. I spent over three months obsessing over every little detail.
"I'm 28 now. You know I've always dreamed of getting married at 28. I've been holding out for this day for years.
"But you and Alex teamed up to lie to me."
Chloe was stunned for a moment on the other end of the line.
Her voice got much quieter, but she stayed resolute. "Emily, I never thought this meant so much to you.
"Honestly, Sophie's super chill. She gets along with everyone and is always fun to hang out with. Not like you, Emily. You're so sensitive. It wears people out sometimes."
It felt like a swarm of ants crawling all over my heart, and it hurt so bad that I could barely stand it.
I hung up on her.
Our friendship had lasted for over 20 years, yet she told me that I'd worn her out.
I took a few deep breaths, trying to steady myself.
I forced the tears back, even though they were about to spill over.
I turned around and started gathering my stuff.
There wasn't much. I put everything neatly into a red suitcase.
Just then, my phone rang. It was from Alex.
He asked, "Emily, why did you hang up on Chloe just now?
"Come on, stop throwing a tantrum on such a big day.
"The ceremony's almost over. If you're coming, get here ASAP. Sophie's starving, so I'm letting everyone start eating."
My voice was cold as ice, totally flat and emotionless. "I told you I'm not coming."
Alex scoffed right into the phone. "Come on, Emily, give it a rest. If you're not coming, where the hell are you gonna go?"
My chest tightened.
I never thought Alex would actually stab me right in my weakest spot.
After graduating college, I went against my parents' wishes and moved to a Northern city with Alex.
They eventually gave in and made the long trip from Southvale to see me.
But when they arrived, I had already fainted at home.
It was my dad who heard my phone ringing from inside, sensed something was off, and asked the building staff to unlock the door.
When they finally got the door open, I was unconscious.
They found me lying there, with blood everywhere beneath me.
After my parents rushed me to the hospital, they were so pissed.
They told me to dump Alex right then and there, or they'd disown me.
But I was too much of a pushover back then.
Alex spent the whole night standing in the snow outside the hospital for my forgiveness, and I forgave him.
I still remember how, for the first time, my dad's always straight back was hunched as he walked away.
And my mom's hair at the temples went gray all at once.
Five years have passed. Only now do I finally realize how much my parents were trying to protect me back then.
Now, guilt weighs heavy on my heart, but I couldn't bring myself to call them.
I could still picture Alex making promises to me at my hospital bedside.
He had said, "Emily, please trust me, okay? I'll take good care of you, so your parents won't have to worry about you anymore. Once you're better, I'll go back with you and apologize to them in person."
But now, on my wedding day, Alex used that old wound against me and even threatened me with it.